Based on an institutional approach to ethnic conflict Petar Cholakov highlights the
idiosyncrasies of and the challenges to inter-ethnic relations in Bulgaria. He traces the
emergence of the currently implemented Bulgarian ethnic model in its interconnection with the
party system and especially examines the ideology political support and mobilization tools
employed by the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) party as well as the populist radical
right. Cholakov presents findings from case studies on Bulgaria's Roma crime and politics. He
analyzes Bulgarian integration policies and assesses the role of Bulgaria's judiciary as well
as contemporary antidiscrimination legislation in particular of the 2004 Protection against
Discrimination Act. The monograph peruses decisions of among others the European Court of
Human Rights and uncovers patterns of discrimination against Roma. By reverse engineering the
Bulgarian ethnic model Cholakov reveals how the institutions operate and comes to the
conclusion that inter-ethnic peace has been entrusted to a defective mechanism which
institutionalizes ethnic cleavage and politicizes identity. On the basis of his in-depth
analysis the author makes a prognosis for the future of ethnic relations in Bulgaria and
provides recommendations for reforms.
